News

06/23/2008 9:35 AM - Rockford, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks used five of their seven picks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft to bolster their defensive corps.

The Hawks started with Left Wing Kyle Beach (Everett, WHL | draft profile) as the 11th pick in the draft. Beach recorded 27 goals, 60 points and 222 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League in 2007-08. Those totals earned the 18-year-old the No. 7 rating among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

In the third round, the Hawks picked Shawn Lalonde (draft profile | player page) of Belleville in the OHL. To get their man, the Hawks traded the #72 and #102 picks to the New York Islanders to move up four spots.

The rest of the Blackhawks picks are as follows:

Round

Pick

Name

Position

Height

Weight

2007-08 Team

5

132

Teigan Zahn

D

6-1

217

Saskatoon (WHL)

6

162

Jonathan Carlsson

D

6-1

198

Brynäs IF (Sweden)

6

169

Ben Smith

RW

5-11

195

Boston College (Hockey East)

6

179

Braden Birch

D

6-3

185

Oakville (OPJHL)

From Los Angeles for 6th round pick in 2009

7

192

Joe Gleason

D

5-9

178

Edina (Minn.) H.S.

For interviews, video and more information on the 2008 NHL Draft, visit chicagoblackhawks.com's Draft Central.